Compactor system and related baling and recycling method

ABSTRACT

A recycling method includes the steps of compacting recyclable material into a fixed bale, and weighing the recyclable material, using load cells, independently of the compacting forces. Compacting equipment for performing the method includes balers with load cells and anchors, with the load cells weighing the baler and the recyclable material in the baler, and with the anchors anchoring the baler in place without interfering with the weighing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 16/371,747, filed Apr. 1, 2019, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/690,574,filed Nov. 30, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,377,518, issued Aug. 12, 2019,both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to compacting and balingequipment for waste materials, and particularly to features of suchequipment for weighing the contained waste materials for timelycompacting and baling thereof.

BACKGROUND

The invention is an improvement in methods of recycling. Recycling is,of course, an activity rather than a composition per se. Thus, almostany item or material is “recyclable” in some fashion. That said, themost commonly recycled materials include old corrugated containers(OCC), paper, plastic, 10 and non-ferrous metals (e.g., aluminum). Theinvention relates to any (or all) of these materials.

As an exemplary material, and at recent prices, “used” cardboard isworth approximately US$100-150 per ton. This makes its collection andrecycling economically viable. According to some statistics, about 30million tons of OCC were recovered in the US in 2011; i.e., worth aboutUS$3-4 Billion. Similar statistics exist for other recyclable materials.

OCC is of interest because commercially, a large percentage (70-90%) ofgoods is shipped in some form of corrugated containers. Because of that,discarded boxes at retail establishments (e.g., grocery stores andvolume retailers) represent a significant amount of OCC. Typically, thediscarded boxes are temporarily compacted and baled at the retailer andthen hauled away by a commercial waste company to a recycling center. Atthe recycling center, the cardboard is pressed and wrapped (i.e.,rebaled) into bales that are sized for particular requirements such astransport in containers (i.e., container ships, container trailers) orfor the input stream of a paper recycling mill.

Generally, the retailer does not have the capability for such afinalized baling, but instead uses a simpler, but less precise, baler.Because of that, the retailer is at the mercy of the hauler or recyclingcompany in terms of calculating the amount (weight) of the collectedcardboard material and the price that the OCC should command. Indeed, inmany cases the hauler simply reports an unverified weight to theretailer, a weight that the retailer has no means of confirming. Giventhat grocery store chains and other retailers can generate huge amountsof discarded cardboard—even within local geographic areas—the totalweight can reach thousands of tons per year, that in turn representmillions of dollars. Accordingly, a retailer's (or a retail chain's)loss of even a small percentage of the value of the collected discardedcardboard represents a relatively large economic disadvantage.

Stated positively, a sufficient economic incentive already exists andthus, the reward for recycling OCC (or any other relevant material) ispotentially significant.

As another factor, because OCC material must be hauled from retailers torecycling centers, transportation costs and regulations (e.g., weightlimits for commercial vehicles) also become an economic factor. An underloaded (or inefficiently loaded) truck wastes fuel resources whileoverloaded ones create regulatory and legal problems. As a result, thelack of precise information about OCC bales costs the retailersignificant amounts, wastes transportation resources (thus effectivelyincreasing transportation costs) and potentially violates state andfederal laws.

In particular, a significant amount of OCC (or other baled recyclablematerial) is, at some point, hauled in steel inter-modal containers(also referred to as “shipping containers,” “sea containers,” and “ISOcontainers”). A variety of such containers exist, and a common size is40 feet long, 8 feet wide and 8½ feet high. The maximum load for thissize container is typically about 30,000 kg (about 66000 pounds; about33 tons). As those in the shipping business are aware, however, theexact sizes and weight capacities (or allowances) can differ fromcontainer to container and in some cases from shipper to shipper.

Regardless of exact sizes, using containers in the most efficientfashion requires filling up the volume and carrying the maximum weight.Stated differently, a shipped container that is less than full (eitherby volume or by weight) represents an inefficient use of resources and aresulting excess cost.

Currently, compacted OCC bales that (i) have dimensions of about58×30×45″ and (ii) weigh about 1250 pounds, will fill a standardcontainer most efficiently. In current practice, however, the retailerdoes not produce such bales and instead relies on the hauler or recyclerto produce the desired bales for further shipment or use.

As a result, bales of consistent size and weight can have more valuethan bales of random size and weight, particularly when the bales areintended for container shipping or export or both. The retailer losesthis value (or a fraction thereof) when the retailer produces aninformal bale.

In a corresponding manner, informal bales will not fill a shippingcontainer by volume, or by weight. Because of that, a container that isshipped at less than full capacity reduces efficiency and increases costby a factor related to the percentage of unused space or weight.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention is a combination of a baler(compactor), a scale that weighs the recyclable material in thecompactor at any point from the loading step to the finished compactedbale and independently of the force applied to the bale by thecompactor, an identification system, and one or more processors(computers) that will bale to a required size on site (i.e., at theretailer), that will concurrently weigh the bale, that will assign anidentifier (e.g. a barcode or RFID) to the bale, and then provide theselling retailer (and potentially other parties) with a highly accurateinventory of discarded, baled, sold, and transported recyclablematerial.

In another aspect, the invention is a recycling system that isparticularly suitable for old corrugated containers (OCC) generated at aretail location. The system includes a baler for baling multiple piecesof OCC into generally fixed bales, a scale in weighing communicationwith the baler for weighing baled OCC produced by the baler, anidentification system for adding specific identification to each baleproduced by the baler, and at least one processor in signalcommunication with the baler, the scale and the identification system.

In another aspect, the invention is a weighed, identified bale ofrecyclable material that is ready for immediate container shipment orfor a mill.

In another aspect, the invention is a recycling method that includes thesteps of compacting recyclable material in a compactor into a bale whileconcurrently weighing the material in the compactor and independently ofthe force that the compactor applies to the material or to the bale,assigning an individual identifier to each fixed bale in which theidentifier includes at least the weight of the bale, and generating aninventory of the baled recyclable material.

In yet another aspect, the invention is a recycling method that isparticularly suitable for old corrugated containers (OCC) generated atretailers, that includes the steps of baling OCC into a fixed bale ofOCC, weighing the fixed bale, assigning an individual identifier to thefixed bale in which the identifier includes at least the weight of thebale, and sending the fixed bale to a destination selected from thegroup consisting of shippers and mills (recycling, paper).

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention and themanner in which the same are accomplished will become clearer based onthe followed detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating the method of the invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of a baler according to theinvention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the perspective views of FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a baler according to theinvention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines A-A of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation overview of the baler according to theinvention.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the baler of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3, and FIGS. 10 and 11 areenlarged cutouts of the indicated portions of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is another perspective view similar to FIGS. 3 and 9, withenlarged cutout portions that form FIGS. 13 and 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating various elements of theinvention and the method of the invention. The invention is described interms of old corrugated containers (“OCC”) that are designated at 15 inthe flowchart and that are placed or otherwise delivered to a baler 20.

As a point of nomenclature, a device that uses force (e.g., a press or apiston) to reduce the size of waste material such as OCC is typicallyreferred to as a “compactor.” In this specification, the terms “baler”and “compactor” are generally used interchangeably unless the contextindicates a different us or distinction. “Baling” refers to thestep—manual or automated—of wrapping the compacted waste material insome fashion that maintains its integrity for the most part as ageometric unit. Baling is typically carried out by wrapping the OCC withmetal bands, or with high-strength polymer strips, or in some casespolymer wrap, or with some other appropriate material.

In the flowchart, the OCC 15 and the baler 20 are connected by the line16. In actual practice this relationship can be as simple as having anoperator deliver the OCC 15 to the baler 20, or the line 16 canrepresent a more sophisticated system (e.g. a conveyor) for deliveringOCC to the baler 20. In the expected context of an individual retaillocation, it is likely that an operator will place the OCC 15 in thebaler 20.

In most cases, the baling step is selected based upon the preference ofthe customer that will receive the bale. One typical technique is tohand wrap the compacted bale with 14 gage baling wire. This is typicallyavailable in precut lengths (e.g. 10 feet) and is sometimes covered witha protective plastic coating. A 14 gage wire can generally be tied byhand without significant difficulty.

In most circumstances, the compactor essentially forces the memory outof the materials such as plastic or cardboard during the compactingstep. If the bale is tied relatively quickly after compacting, thereturn of the memory will cause the bale to expand against its tie andthus essentially tighten the bale.

In a first aspect, the method includes the step of baling the OCC 15into a plurality of generally fixed bales of OCC and then weighing eachbale. As will be described in somewhat more detail with respect to FIGS.2-11, the baler includes a scale 21 that is in weight communication withthe baler 20 for weighing the bale of OCC 15 produced by the baler 20.

The term “scale” is used broadly to describe any device that weighs thebale, including devices that weigh the bale “in progress.” In theembodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2-11 the weighing is carried out by oneor more load cells 82 that are under the baler (e.g., FIG. 11) andelectronically connected to the processor 25 by the communication line27.

Because the load cells are under the baler (compactor), they can weighthe compactor and its contents while the compactor is compactingrecyclable material and independently of the force that the compactorapplies (e.g., cylinder 60, FIG. 2). Because the weight of the compactor20 will generally remain constant, the difference in weight measured bythe load cells will represent the weight of any added recyclablematerial.

An individual identifier is assigned to each fixed bale in which theidentifier includes at least the weight of the bale from the scale 21.As will become clear from the further description herein, any identifierthat can carry the required information and from which the requiredinformation can be reproduced or harvested is appropriate. In mostcurrent embodiments, the individual identifier will be some version of aradio frequency identification device (“RFID”) or a machine readablelabel such as a barcode.

The term “barcode” is used in a broad sense and includes variationfamiliar to hose in the art such as “UPC,” “EAN,” and several others. Inaddition to individually naming (so to speak) a bale, these codes caninclude data about dates, measurements, locations, and many other typesof information.

In FIG. 1, the identification system is indicated at 23 and anidentified bale is indicated at 24. A processor 25 is in signalcommunication with the baler 20, with the scale 21, and with theidentification system 23. Communication lines 26, 27 and 30 helpillustrate these relationships. In the context of a plurality of bales,the method includes generating an inventory of the baled OCC materialusing the processor 25 and appropriate memory. The processor can be anyappropriate device that has the calculating and memory sufficient tohandle the steps of the invention. Typically, it includes a programmablelogic controller (PLC) that can be programmed by the user. Many currenttypes of PLC's can be programmed through a connection (e.g. Ethernet) toa personal computer and thus PLC's appropriate for the invention can beselected, programmed and used by those skilled in the art, and withoutundue experimentation.

In the method, the OCC is baled into a plurality of bales of similarfixed weight, or of similar geometry, or of both similar weight andsimilar geometry. Because of the nature of OCC, and of baling andrecycling in general, the term “fixed weight” will be understood toinclude an appropriate tolerance or uncertainty rather than the level ofprecision that might be expected, for example, in bench top chemistryexperiments. In some embodiments, the method comprises adding the OCC 15to the baler 20 until the baler 20 and it's scale 21 detect a desiredbale wait of OCC, and then producing a bale from that amount of OCC.

It will be understood, of course, that although the method isparticularly advantageous for multiple bales and large amounts of OCC,the method also applies to a single bale.

In the same manner, the invention can include, either in conjunctionwith the weight or independently of it, baling 5 the OCC 15 into aplurality of bales of similar fixed shape. The most typical shape is asolid rectangle (again used generally with an understood tolerance) andan advantage of the invention is that it will produce the bale in a sizeand weight that is considered mill-ready. Although the term “mill-ready”is to some extent subjective, it is understood in the industry torepresent a solid rectangle that weighs at least about 800 pounds, or insome cases at least 1000 pounds, and in many cases over 1200 pounds.Similarly, the bale will have dimensions on the order of about 60 incheson at least one of its sides (length width or height). As noted in thebackground, bales having dimensions of 58×30×45 inches (about 147×76×114centimeters) are most efficiently-sized for filling typical shippingcontainers with little or no wasted space. Additionally, if such balesweigh about 1250 pounds (about 568 kilograms) each, they will match (ornearly match) the 30,480 kg (67,056 pound) weight limit. Using themaximum space and weight in turn maximizes the efficient use of aplurality of containers, including the most efficient use of energy totransport the containers and the proportionally lowest cost.

FIG. 1 also illustrates that one of the advantages of the invention isthe use of the baler 20 at the site of the retailer 31 at which the OCCis being generated. As indicated in the background, the generaladvantage of the invention is to produce bales that can be transportedto, and used at, a final destination without any rebaling step. FIG. 1illustrates the destination as the mill (or buyer or shipper) 32, andthe 35 transportation to the mill 32 is indicated by the line 38. FIG. 1is, of course, exemplary rather than limiting of the invention, and thedestination is not limited by the terminology used herein.

In some circumstance, some (rather than all) of the bales areidentified, labeled, and tracked. Stated differently, a method thatbypasses one or a few bales from a plurality of bales still falls withinthe invention.

Furthermore, because the bales 24 carry the individual identifiers, themethod can include reading the location of 45 the bales using the bales'individual identifiers after the bales leave the retail site. This stepis illustrated in FIG. 1 by the detector 33. The detector 33 isappropriately complementary of or congruent with the type ofidentification used in the bale 24. Thus, if the bale is identified withan optical label such as a barcode, the detector 33 will be an opticalscanning device that will recognize the barcode and interpret (and storeand send) the information provided by the barcode.

Alternatively, if the identification system is RFID, the detector willeither pick up the signal from the RFID or broadcast a signal to whichthe RFID responds. The relationship between the detector 33 and theidentified bale 24 is indicated by the connecting line 34.

RFID devices are helpful because in most circumstances they eliminatethe need for a data entry step. Their use and operation are generallywell understood in the art and can be adopted by those of ordinary skillwithout undue experimentation. Some RFID tags are “passive” meaning thatthey have no internal power source, but draw power from the detector.Active tags contain a battery for power and some tags combine bothpassive and powered features. RFID tags have the advantage of notneeding to be within the line of sight of a particular optical readerand thus can be embedded in the bales.

In order to provide the relevant information to the interested parties,the information from the detector 33 is sent to the retailer 31, themill 32 or both. As illustrated in FIG. 1, this is most convenientlycarried out using the Internet which in turn is symbolized by the cloud35.

The use of the Internet 35 is, of course, convenient rather thanmandatory, but the ubiquitous nature of the Internet and the ease ofelectronic communications make its use convenient and helpful.Connecting line 36 illustrates the flow of information from the detector33 to the Internet 35 and line 37 similarly indicates the flow ofinformation from the Internet to the mill 32. Line 40 indicates the flowof information from the Internet 35 to the retailer 31.

FIG. 1 also illustrates that the relevant identification data 41 isgenerated by the scale 21 and by the identification system 23. The data41 arrives from (or its path is symbolized by) the scale 21 through theline 22 and with the identification system by the line 43. On a periodicbasis, information and identification data are produced by the detector33 as indicated by the line 44 connecting the detector 33 to the data41.

In a similar manner, the relationship between the baler 20 and theidentification system 23 is indicated by the line 45 and therelationship between the baler 20 and the identified bale 24 isindicated by the line 46. The relationship between the scale 21 and theidentification data 41 is indicated by the line 42, and between the data41 and the Internet 35 by the line 39. Line 49 represents therelationship between the bale 24 and the identification system 49.

FIG. 1 also shows that the processor 25 can also provide information 47to the retailer early in the process, a relationship indicated by theconnecting lines 50 and 51.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates several of these potential communicationrelationships, it will be understood that FIG. 1 is exemplary ratherthan limiting of this capability. Accordingly, the invention can includeother paths of communication between and among the retailer, the bale,the mill, the transporter (shipper) and the Internet.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a baler 20 that includes aspects of thepresent invention. The baler 20 includes a frame broadly designated at53 that is typically form of an appropriate metal, usually steel. Theframe 53 has a number of structural elements such as the girders 54, 55,and 56 at the top. A pair of parallel reinforcing girders 57 helpssupport a main compaction cylinder 60 which is typically a hydrauliccylinder. The main compaction cylinder 60 is connected to hydraulicfluids through appropriate hydraulic lines (which have been omitted fromFIG. 2 for clarity). The hydraulic cylinder includes a piston 94 (FIG.6) driven by the motor 61 and obtains fluid from, and is controlled by,a tank and control housing 62.

The main compaction cylinder 60 is attached to a press head assemblybroadly designated at 63. In the illustrated embodiment, the press headassembly is formed of a plurality of press head plates 64. These areconnected to the main compaction cylinder 60 by the crosspiece 65 andthe plate 66.

The compactor 20 includes a vertically oriented gate 70 thatreciprocates vertically between two gate guide tube assemblies 71. Thegate 70 includes a smaller portal 72 through which an operator canobserve the status of the compaction and of any resulting bale. The gate70 is typically raised in order to add OCC and lowered (closed) for thecompacting step.

In order to remove the bale from the compactor 20, a door 73 is includedin the lower half of the baler 20. The door 73 is mounted on a doorhinge 74. When the compactor is in operation the door is closed (e.g.,FIG. 3) and held in place by a door latch 75. The door latch 75 pivotson a hinge 97 (FIG. 14) and is in turn is opened and closed by theturnbuckle 76 which moves on its own hinge 77.

The floor of the baler 20 is broadly designated at 80 and in theillustrated embodiment is formed of a plurality of floor plates 81.

Although illustrated in more detail in FIG. 11, FIG. 2 also illustratesa pair of load cells 82. In the illustrated embodiment, a total of fourload cells are positioned beneath the main frame 53 and are operativelyconnected to the controller and display 84.

FIG. 3 illustrates the same baler 20 and thus the same structural andoperational elements as FIG. 2, but with the gate 70 lowered and thedoor 73 closed and latched.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the same baler 20 illustrated in FIGS. 2and 3. Thus, the elements are the same, with FIG. 4 helping toillustrate a few more structural elements. FIG. 4 illustrates that inaddition to the cross pieces 65 and the plate 66, the press headassembly 63 includes vertical bars 85 and horizontal bars 86 that arefurther joined and sup-ported by the crossbars 87.

FIG. 4 also illustrates that the frame 53 includes side panels 90 and arear panel 91. A pair of control support bars 92 extend from the sidepanel 90. FIG. 4 also illustrates a limit switch 93 (best seen in FIG.13) that is typically one of several present for monitoring variouspositions of (for example) the press head assembly 63 as it reciprocatesvertically.

FIGS. 5-8 are additional elevational, plan and cross-sectional views ofthe baler 20. These figures illustrate a number of items that havealready been described, and thus they carry the same reference numerals.FIG. 6 illustrates that the main compaction cylinder 60 includes apiston 94 that reciprocates within the cylinder 60. FIG. 5 includes asomewhat clearer view of the digital display 95 on the controller 84.FIG. 7 illustrates another limit switch 96 positioned lower in the baler20 than the limit switch 93 illustrated at the top.

FIG. 9 is identical to FIG. 3, but includes the cut out expanded viewsof FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 illustrates the controller 84 and itsdigital display 95. FIG. 10 also illustrates the hinge 97 for the doorlatch 75.

FIG. 11 shows the rear load cell 82 and its surrounding structure. Thestructure includes a side angle iron 100, a small portion of the floorplate 81, another angle iron 101 that serves as a load cell cover, and aload cell arm 102 that transfers force from the floor plate 81 to theload cell 82. FIG. 11 also illustrates that the side angle iron 100 isfixed to several anchor bolts 103, two of which are visible in FIGS. 3and 9. As the skilled person will recognize, both the weight of thebaler and its reciprocating motion require that the baler be firmlyanchored in place, and the anchor bolts 103 are thus typically fixeddirectly to a structural floor (or equivalent element) that can handlethe forces generated when the baler is in operation.

FIGS. 12, 13, and 14 illustrate several other details. FIG. 12 isidentical to FIG. 9 and FIG. 3. The enlarged view of FIG. 13 illustratesthat the limit switch 93 is an up stop limit switch. FIG. 13 alsoillustrates a full bale limit switch 104 and a safety gate limit switch105.

FIG. 14 illustrates a main bale door limit switch 106.

Using the invention, a retailer can produce and track a weighed,identified bale which is ready for immediate container shipment or for amill. As an advantageous result, the retailer no longer needs anintermediate party to collect and resell (or recycle) the discardedcardboard. This in turn means that the retailer can collect more of thevalue per ton than has been previously available.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention, and although specific terms have beenemployed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and notfor purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined inthe claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A recycling method for old corrugatedcontainers (OCC) at retailers, the method comprising: compactingmultiple pieces of discarded OCC in a compactor at a retail site into afixed bale of OCC at that retail site, wherein the fixed bale is a solidrectangle; weighing the compactor and the OCC in the compactorindependently of the force that the compactor applies to the discardedOCC or to the fixed bale during compacting; assigning an individualidentifier to the fixed bale in which the identifier includes at leastthe weight of the fixed identified bale; and sending the fixedidentified bale in an intermodal container from the retail site to adestination without any rebaling step, wherein at least one load cell ispositioned under the compactor to support the weight of the compactorand the discarded OCC during the compacting step and during the weighingstep in order to perform the weighing step, and wherein an anchoringelement anchors the compactor in place without interfering with thesupport of the weight of the compactor and the discarded OCC by the atleast one load cell during the weighing by the at least one load cell.2. The recycling method according to claim 1, wherein the step ofcompacting the discarded OCC further comprises adding the OCC to thecompactor at the retail site while the compactor weighs the discardedOCC in the compactor until the compactor detects that a predeterminedmill-ready weight of OCC has been added to the compactor, and thenautomatically initiating the compacting of the discarded OCC to producethe fixed bale from that OCC currently in the compactor, wherein thecompacting, weighing, and assigning steps are repeated to produce aplurality of the fixed identified bales each having the same weight, andwherein the sending step includes sending the plurality of fixed,same-weight, identified bales in a container from the retail site to thedestination, without any rebaling step, thereby optimizing transport tothe destination.
 3. The recycling method according to claim 1, furthercomprising obtaining location information of the transported bale byreading the bale's individual identifier and sending the locationinformation to the destination.
 4. The recycling method according toclaim 1, wherein the destination is selected from the group consistingof a shipper, a mill, a rebaler, and a customer for the baled OCC.
 5. Afixed identified bale produced according to the recycling method ofclaim
 1. 6. A compacting system for a recyclable material, comprising: acompactor with a press head that reciprocates under a compacting forceto compact the recyclable material into a fixed bale having a generallyrectangular shape; at least one scale that weighs the combination of thecompactor and the recyclable material in the compactor independently ofthe compacting force applied to the recyclable material by the compactorpress head, wherein the at least one scale is positioned under thecompactor to support the weight of the compactor and the recyclablematerial during the reciprocating operation of the compactor press headand during the weighing of the compactor and the recyclable material bythe at least one scale; and at least one anchoring system including ananchor element that is configured to anchor the compactor in placeduring the reciprocating operation of the compactor press head withoutthe anchoring system interfering with the support of the weight of thecompactor and the recyclable material by the at least one scale duringthe weighing by the at least one scale.
 7. The compacting system ofclaim 6, wherein the anchoring system further includes a retainerelement that cooperates with the anchor element to anchor the compactorduring the reciprocating operation of the compactor press head withoutinterfering with the supporting and weighing of the compactor and therecyclable material by the at least one scale.
 8. The compacting systemof claim 6, wherein the retainer element is positioned a distance aboveand spaced apart from a cooperating portion of the compactor.
 9. Thecompacting system of claim 7, wherein the anchor element is a bolt andthe retainer element is a nut threaded onto the bolt but not tighteneddown into contact with the compactor or the at least one scale.
 10. Thecompacting system of claim 6, wherein the scale includes at least oneload cell.
 11. The compacting system of claim 6, wherein the recyclablematerial is old corrugated containers (OCC).
 12. The compacting systemof claim 6, wherein the compactor is a baler.
 13. The compacting systemof claim 6, wherein the scale weighs the recyclable material in thecompactor at any point from when the recyclable material is loaded intothe compactor to when the fixed bale is finished.
 14. The compactingsystem of claim 6, further comprising: an identification systemconfigured to add specific identification to each fixed bale produced bythe compactor; and at least one processor in signal communication withthe compactor, the scale, and the identification system.
 15. A fixedidentified bale produced by the compacting system of claim
 6. 16. Asystem for compacting old corrugated containers (OCC), comprising: abaler with a press head that reciprocates under a compacting force tocompact the OCC into a fixed bale having a generally rectangular shape;at least one load cell that weighs the combination of the baler and theOCC in the baler independently of the compacting force applied to theOCC by the baler, wherein the at least one load cell is positioned underthe baler to support the weight of the baler and the OCC during thereciprocating operation of the baler press head and during the weighingof the baler and the OCC by the at least one load cell; and at least onemeans for anchoring the baler in place during the reciprocatingoperation of the baler press head without interfering with the supportof the weight of the baler and the OCC by the at least one load cellduring the weighing by the at least one load cell.
 17. The compactingsystem of claim 16, wherein the load cell weighs the OCC in the baler atany point from when the OCC is loaded into the baler to when the fixedbale is finished.
 18. The compacting system of claim 16, furthercomprising: an identification system configured to add specificidentification to each fixed bale produced by the baler; and at leastone processor in signal communication with the baler, the scale, and theidentification system.
 19. The compacting system of claim 6, wherein theanchoring system further includes a retainer element that cooperateswith the anchor element to anchor the compactor during the reciprocatingoperation of the compactor press head without interfering with thesupporting and weighing of the compactor and the recyclable material bythe at least one scale, wherein the compactor includes a base frameelement, the anchor element anchors the base frame element in place, andthe retainer element is positioned a distance above and spaced apartfrom the anchored base frame element of the compactor.
 20. Thecompacting system of claim 6, wherein the at least one scale weighs thecombination of the compactor and the recyclable material in thecompactor concurrently during the reciprocating operation of thecompactor press head, and wherein the anchor element is configured toanchor the compactor in place during the reciprocating operation of thecompactor press head without the anchoring system interfering with thesupport of the weight of the compactor and the recyclable material bythe at least one scale during the concurrent weighing by the at leastone scale.